Allan Wanga

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Allan Wanga
Personal information
Full name Allan Wetende Wanga[1]
Date of birth (1985-11-26) 26 November 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Kisumu, Kenya
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Kakamega Homeboyz
(player & sporting director)
Youth career
FIFA Kingdom
St Paul's High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Lolwe – 12 (8)
2007 Tusker 23 (21)
2008–2010 Petro Atlético[2] 35 (19)
2010 FK Baku 16 (10)
2011–2013 Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 22 (14)
2012 → A.F.C. Leopards (loan) – 14 (12)
2013–2014 A.F.C. Leopards – 20 (17)
2014–2015 Al-Merreikh 18 (11)
2015–2016 Azam 19 (12)
2016–2017 Tusker ? (?)
2018– Kakamega Homeboyz ? (?)
International career
2007–2015 Kenya 44 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 July 2016

Allan Wetende Wanga (born 26 November 1985 in Kisumu) is a Kenyan footballer who currently plays for Kakamega Homeboyz in the Kenya Premier League as a striker, where he also is the sporting director.[3] His dream of playing in the UEFA Europa League was not realised with Azerbaijan Premier League side FC Baku, as he failed to obtain a work permit after working out a 2-year contract with the club, which ended on 31 December 2009.[4]

Club career[edit]

Youth years[edit]

Allan Wanga started playing while at primary school. As a youth, he also played at various age levels for now defunct Kisumu based football club known as FIFA Kingdom.

He then went to St Paul's High School, Shikunga in Butere District and continued playing there, although the school did not have a famous football team.[5]

Early career[edit]

In 2005, he joined Kisumu-based Lolwe FC, then playing in Nationwide League, the second-tier football league in Kenya. He only stayed three months though, because the Nationwide was being revamped and thus closed. He was set to join Agro-Chemical, but the move did not happen as he was threatened by Agro players fearing for their place in the team, according to Wanga. He then went home and was persuaded by his mother Noel, to join the army. He failed the army test, and got a chance at Sher Karuturi, another Kenyan top-flight club. After waiting for a contract offer, his brother Richard called him over a job offer in Canada, and Allan joined his brother in Nairobi but it did not materialise.[5]

After almost a year without a club, Lowle contacted him in late 2006 and he returned, but was picked up by Premier League club Tusker F.C., in early 2007. He played for Tusker until the end of 2007 season, when his club won the league. He managed to score 13 goals in his nine last matches for Tusker FC and 21 in total.[5]

Petro Atlético[edit]

At the end of 2007, he moved to Angolan club Petro Atlético, turning down trial offers from Swedish clubs. He won the Angolan Premier League (Girabola) in his first year, Petro Atléticos first league title since 2001.

FC Baku[edit]

At the end of January 2010, he moved to Azerbaijani club FC Baku on a six-month contract but renewable for a year.[6] After winning the Azerbaijan Cup his optional year contract was not taken up by Baku, and Wanga went on trial with Georgian side Rustavi Olimpi.[7] When the deal hit a snag he called on Baku who could not issue him a work permit until after four months.[8]

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai[edit]

On 2 December 2010, he signed a contract with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the Vietnamese Super League.[9]

In January 2013, Wanga joined Floribert Ndayisaba in going on trial with Omani side Al-Nasr.[10]

Loan and return to A.F.C. Leopards[edit]

At the beginning of the 2012 Kenyan Premier League, Wanga signed a loan deal with A.F.C. Leopards until 11 November 2012.[11][12] At the end of the season, Wanga sealed a permanent move to Ingwe.[13]

Al-Merrikh[edit]

On 4 June 2014, Wanga agreed to a one-year contract with the Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh.[14]

Azam[edit]

On 21 July 2015, Wanga agreed to a one-year contract with the Tanzanian club Azam FC.[15] His first goal came in a Vodacom Premier League match against Stand United, During his one-year stay at Azam he was restricted to 11 appearances due to personal issues scoring 3 goals in the process.

Return to Tusker[edit]

In June 2016, Wanga completed a move back to his former side Tusker.[16] On 17 July 2016, he played his first match back for the club in a 2–2 draw against Chemelil Sugar, coming on as a substitute for Michael Khamati in the 59th minute. He scored 4 minutes into injury time to put his side 2–1 up before having his goal cancelled out by Hillary Echesa a minute later.[17][18]

International career[edit]

He made his debut for Harambee Stars on 27 May 2007, in a friendly against Nigeria.[5] His first international goal for Kenya came on 8 December 2007 against Tanzania in a 2–1 loss at the 2007 CECAFA Cup.

On July 8, 2019, Wanga announced that he had retired from International football.[19]

Personal life[edit]

Wanga's father, Frank Wetende, is a former A.F.C. Leopards and Kisumu Posta footballer who also played for the national team in the 1970s and early 1980s. His mother is named Noel Ayieta. He has three siblings, Richard Malaki, Nancy Kuboka and Magdalene Amboko, who is deceased.

His role models are fellow Kenyan footballer McDonald Mariga of Inter Milan and former French New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry.[5]

Wanga married Brenda Mulinya, a Kenyan TV reporter on 3 September 2011.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Allan Wanga the 'net-tearer' adapting to life in Sudan". Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Kenya/Angola: Wanga Joins Angolan Club". ANGOP Press, 23 October 2007
  3. ^ "Star Allan Wanga lands new job at Kakamega County".‚ goal.com, 4 January 2018
  4. ^ "Reference at allafrica.com".
  5. ^ a b c d e Kenyafootball.com, 3 July 2008: "Allan Wanga; The Kenyan Wonder". Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Exclusive: Wanga issued with permit, unveiled at Baku". futaa.com/. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: Wanga heading to Georgia". futaa.com/. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  8. ^ "No deal in Georgia for Wanga". futaa.com/. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  9. ^ Kitula, Sammy (3 December 2010). "Kenya: Wanga Joins Vietnamese Club On Two-Year Deal". The Nation (Nairobi). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. ^ "AFC Leopards' key players Floribert Ndayisaba and striker Allan Wanga off to Oman for trials". Goal.com. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ^ "AFC Leopards to unveil new signings next week". Michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Wanga extends loan spell - Futaa.com". Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Leopards release 25-man squad for 2013 TPL season - Futaa.com". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Wanga finally joins Al Merreikh". Goal.com. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Wanga pens one year contract with Azam FC". Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  16. ^ Kevin Teya (1 July 2016). "Widely travelled former Leopards striker joins Tusker". Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  17. ^ Alfred Kiura (17 July 2016). "Wanga scores on debut as Chemelil fight to hold Tusker in a dramatic draw". Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  18. ^ Mutwiri Mutuota (17 July 2016). "Echesa denies Wanga the glory as Chemelil hold Tusker". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  19. ^ OLILO, CELLESTINE (8 July 2019). "Allan Wanga retires from international football". Nation Media Group. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Allan Wanga and Brenda Mulinya tie the knot". Michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allan_Wanga&oldid=1199219086"